More pleasant, cleaner.
Living room with Tambor ecological paint (Photo: Micah Loubton)
Some of the factors that affect air pollution and the environment and directly also our quality of life and health are related to the house we live in and the lifestyle we lead.
The conduct of the family and the daily management of the house, the use of energy-consuming products, the production of waste, and also the construction methods and materials from which our houses are made, provide a response to our needs and are suitable for the lifestyles to which we have become accustomed.
But we all know the problematic effects of the modern lifestyle on the environment and we all understand that it can reduce these effects.
Along with the awareness of maintaining health and the quality of the environment, which increases year by year, we also see the development of advanced and innovative technologies that make it possible to build smart and ecological houses, although most of the residences are "normal" houses.
Whether you live in a "smart" home or a "regular" home, you can do a lot to transform your home and adopt an ecological lifestyle that is more considerate of the environment,
Green walls
The house we live in forms a framework and shelter for the life that takes place in it, hence the great importance given today to green construction and the use of environmentally friendly construction materials and paint.
As already mentioned, most of us do not live in smart homes, nor even in new homes built according to the green building standard, but we all periodically paint the walls of the house or carry out renovations, and just before we approach these actions, so that we also consider the environment.
Drywall designed by architect Adi Aronov.
Less polluting, more ecological (Photo: Amit Gosher)
Thus, for example, the use of plasterboard, as opposed to the use of concrete, allows for easy construction that has less impact on the environment.
It is important to remember that concrete is one of the most polluting materials and has a negative environmental impact.
The use of plasterboard, in addition to being more thoughtful, makes it possible to make changes in the apartment also in accordance with the changes that apply to the family's needs, easily and efficiently.
Even when painting the walls of the house and especially when painting children's rooms, it is advisable to choose a VOC-free paint that contributes to cleaner air in the home.
VOC-free paint is free of volatile organic compounds and still maintains the ability to cover, hide and is easy to use.
It is better for professionals who paint and use paint frequently and equally for householders who can stay in the painted spaces immediately when the paint dries without any fear.
It can be tinted in 1650 different color shades and it's nice to know that it comes in packaging that contains over 30% recycled plastic.
Electric appliances are available
As part of the development of the modern world, many electrical appliances have come to us that replace many household chores that we used to do manually.
Actions such as washing and drying clothes, washing dishes, cooling food and even cleaning the house, are currently implemented in every home on several electrical appliances.
However, over the years we have come to know that electrical appliances sometimes have a negative effect on the environment.
The development of innovative and advanced technologies today allows everyone to do good for the environment without giving up the use of the electrical appliances we have become accustomed to.
All that needs to be done is to pay attention to the issue and prefer energy efficient devices that will also save you money along the way.
Appliances that benefit from innovative and advanced technologies, benefit from efficient energy consumption, and because of this they are more economical in money.
There are electrical appliances on the market today whose parts are made from recycled materials, for example Beko's ECO LINE series includes parts made from recycled plastic, fishing nets and even eggshells.
Beko's Biocycle refrigerator - contributes to the environment (photo: Yehcat)
One of the electrical appliances we can't do without is the air conditioner.
The environmental damage that affects the warming of the earth leads to extreme changes in the weather and our solution is the use of air conditioners.
Thus, we have all become accustomed to staying in air-conditioned spaces during the hot summer days and the cold winter days, but for the sake of protecting the environment and also for our pocket, it is important to remember that a fan consumes significantly less energy than an air conditioner, therefore on days when the heat is not extreme as well as at night, it is better to prefer using a fan over Air-Conditioner.
A clean house and a clean environment
As part of our daily conduct at home, we often use cleaning agents, but many of the cleaning agents contain chemicals and other substances that are harmful to our health and the environment.
The solution is very simple to use friendly cleaning agents.
Today, environmentally friendly cleaning products are easily available and switching to them contributes to reducing harmful chemicals that are released into the environment, creating a safer home.
A new concept: innovation
Our home becomes a warm and pleasant place, thanks in large part to the furniture we put into it, each according to their needs and tastes.
Over time, when our needs change, trends change and our personal taste changes, we replace the old furniture with new ones.
What do we do with the old furniture?
Most of the time, especially in cases where the furniture is broken or worn out, we will throw it in the garbage.
A green lung at home - breathing good air (Photo: Boaz Lavi and Yonatan Blum)
This conduct greatly contributes to the production of quantities of garbage, some of which does not decompose or which takes many years to decompose, and it also fuels the industry of wood, metal, plastic, and the fabrics from which new furniture is made.
This is the place to get to know the concept of "renovation" created from a combination of two words: recycling and renewal.
Most of the old furniture can be renewed in a simple and easy process that anyone can perform at home and thereby give their old furniture a new life, adapt to design trends, maintain its nostalgic value and even save money.
You can easily find guides and professional workshops and renew your furniture.
A green lung at home
The quality of the air in the home is greatly affected by the quality of the air outside and as we know, air pollution has a significant negative effect on both human health and the quality of the environment and the planet.
We are all familiar with the term "green lung" which refers to open spaces such as parks and public gardens, located in urban areas.
The green lungs got their oil because of the trees and plants where they filter out toxins in the process of photosynthesis and produce clean oxygen.
Growing plants at home is a fantastic way to improve the air quality in your home.
Certain houseplants can reduce pollutants such as carbon dioxide, benzene, formaldehyde and mercury, which can cause health problems such as dizziness, headaches and eye irritation.
Buy smart, throw away less
The subject of excessive and unnecessary shopping at the supermarket has been making headlines lately and we are all starting to realize that we are purchasing much more than we really consume.
Unnecessary buying, apart from being a waste of money, also contributes a lot to the production of waste, both from the food itself and from its packaging.
Our tendency to purchase excessive food products is also reflected in preparing excessive amounts of food for family members.
For some reason we feel better when the fridge is full of pots and lunch boxes, even when we know that tomorrow or the day after tomorrow all the cooked food kept in the fridge will be thrown away.
so what are we doing?
The end of the act with a first thought... we can save our money and reduce the amount of waste if we know the needs of our family members well, and make a smart weekly purchase.
Thus, even when we come to prepare family meals, it is useful to consider the quantities that the family members are able to eat, and if there are still leftovers, many times they can be turned into new foods very easily.
For example, you can make vegetable fritters from leftover salad, a pie from a leftover pasta dish, or a shake from leftover tomato sauce.
Fruits that have lost their umbrellas can be washed, cut and frozen and later used for healthy smoothies.
Everywhere there is the orange bin.
Look for him (Photo: Reuven Castro)
Food that has lost its umbrellas and leftovers from cooked food are only part of the amount of waste we produce on a daily basis, waste that accumulates, piles up and causes enormous environmental damage.
Reducing the amount of waste and separating it are necessary actions that many in Israel and around the world have already managed to get used to and maintain, and the different colored bins placed in almost every trash room in the common buildings help with this.
And there is still a lack of bins for recycling glass waste, textiles and more.
These recycling bins can only be found in central locations and not in every trash room.
Until these bins reach the garbage rooms, we will do ourselves and the environment a favor if we get to know the surroundings of your home and locate the places where these bins are located.
The Israelis protect the environment
From a new survey conducted by the Sapio research institute for the Tambor company, data emerges showing that almost all Israelis (94%) take some kind of action to preserve the quality of the environment.
70% recycle bottles, 68% indicate little use of disposable utensils and 60% use reusable bags.
Even when choosing different products, about a third (32%) of Israelis use products whose production process is environmentally friendly and/or whose use is not harmful to the environment.
Just as important as the color is the preservation of nature.
A room in Tambor's ecological color (Photo: Boaz Lavi and Yonatan Blum)
The desire to protect the environment is also expressed in the aspect of choosing the type of paint for the house: 39% stated that when choosing the paint for the house it is important to them that the color be ecological, without preservatives and pollutants such as VOC (volatile organic compounds).
The main considerations in choosing a paint are that the paint be of high quality (78%) and at an attractive price (71%), and then, as mentioned, that the paint be ecological without preservatives and pollutants (39%) and that it will allow staying in the room near the painting (37%).
The writer is the manager of sustainability and green construction in Tambor.
Home and design
order and cleanliness
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ecology